Saint of the day for December 26: story of Saint Stephen

Saint of the day for December 26nd
(a.c. 36)

Story of Santo Stefano

“As the number of disciples continued to grow, Greek-speaking Christians complained against Hebrew-speaking Christians, saying that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of disciples and said: 'It is not right that we neglect the word of God to serve at the table. Brothers, choose among you seven respectable men, full of Spirit and wisdom, whom we will entrust to this task, while we dedicate ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word ”. The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit… ”(Acts 6: 1-5).

Acts of the Apostles says that Stephen was a man full of grace and power, who worked great wonders among the people. Some Jews, members of the synagogue of the Roman freedmen, argued with Stephen, but they did not live up to the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. They persuaded others to make the accusation of blasphemy against him. He was taken and brought before the Sanhedrin.

In his speech, Stephen recalled God's guidance through Israel's history, as well as Israel's idolatry and disobedience. He later claimed that his persecutors were showing the same spirit. “… You always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your forefathers "(Acts 7: 51b).

Stephen's speech sparked anger in the crowd. “But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked carefully up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens open and the Son of man standing right hand of God.… They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. … As they stoned Stephen, he cried out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." … 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them' ”(Acts 7: 55-56, 58a, 59, 60b).

Reflection

Stephen died like Jesus: unjustly accused, led to unjust condemnation because he spoke the truth without fear. He died with confident eyes fixed on God and with a prayer of forgiveness on his lips. A "happy" death is one that finds us in the same spirit, whether our death is as peaceful as Joseph's or as violent as Stephen's: to die with courage, total trust and forgiving love.